Ronald Mulvaney was quintessentially God and Country.
Born in Brooklyn, New York ninety years ago, Ron was
a United States Marine, rising to the rank of sergeant.
Moving later to Brookfield, Wisconsin, Ron got involved
in politics and ran as a Democrat for Congress; sadly he
didn't win. He was a rarity, being a center-right Democrat;
unapologetically pro-life, supportive of a pro-U.S. defensive
posture coupled with a like-minded diplomatic posture,
favoring an estate tax but not ever-escalating income taxes,
and always, always a loyal and country-loving patriot.
We met through a career building and job hunting workshop
group which met monthly. I had just moved back home from
Saint Paul, Minnesota, and wanted to get some helpful
information on conducting a successful job search. Ron
was one of the mentors. We hit it off right away and got to
be quite close friends. Ron also got me a job; he was at the
time a sales associate at the Boston Store at Brookfield
Square when that retail organization was around. Ron was
in Menswear, I went to Housewares.
Ron was a devout Catholic, one of the most such Catholics
I have ever known. Ron put me to shame as far as devotion
to the faith was concerned. and your faithful Peasant goes
to mass each week and regularly partakes of the sacraments.
Ron invited me to join him on a retreat at the Jesuit Retreat
House in Oshkosh, just up north a ways from the Milwaukee
metropolitan area and just barely before the COVID pandemic
hit. He said it would be the last time we would be able to get
together for a visit; Ron was then living in Georgia at a retirement
home near some of his relatives, and he wanted to make our
visit a very special one. It was a silent retreat for Catholic men;
no one could speak a word throughout the weekend retreat.
I never experienced such a thing, a gathering where no one
says a word! I didn't think I could go the entire retreat without
accidentally blurting out anything aloud, but I managed to do
just that. Ron and I were on the same wavelength throughout
the retreat, and we basked in the warmth of our friendship and
each others' company at our prayer times, our meals, and
the guest lectures by visiting clergy. I have never had such
an experience with any other friend in my life, and it was
heavenly and grand.
We also got together for lunch many times leading up to the
retreat, meeting at a wonderful restaurant at the Mayfair Mall
in Wauwatosa. We talked of many things, Catholicism (Ron
was Irish Catholic, much like me), Irish Fest (we were there
together with his charming wife, who went up before Ron),
politics, sports, family --- our relatives and such, pets,
and travel. Ron was most erudite and worldly yet very
connected to his faith, never taking it for granted. He treated
for every meal; he never let me pay so as to treat him, although
I did get to leave a tip now and then. Generosity was another
trait of Ron's which made him so endearing.
Ron was also an avid reader of this blog, too. He looked forward
to reading my latest offerings every week.
We stayed in touch by telephone and online, as we were both on
Facebook. It was through Facebook that I learned of his passing,
having left us just two days ago. Relatives entered the news on his
FB page. Although I knew that his health was fading, the sorrowful
news still hurt greatly. Our last visit on the phone, or at all, was
two weeks before his end, and although sounding weak Ron
was in high spirits; he told me many times that our chats on the
phone gave him a lift. They certainly did that for me!
Although our visits have all come to an end I am comforted knowing
that Ron is just a prayer away, and we shall be together in
spirit in this way. Your grateful Peasant is most grateful for
having known and enjoyed a twenty-two year friendship with
this remarkable gentleman! Our world could use some more
folks like Ron Mulvaney!
Requiescat in pace, old friend.
MEM
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